What we've been up to...

In May, we went to Dora Live and spent a few nights at a Holiday Inn waterpark in Owatonna.





On June 1, Maren turned 2! TWO - ALREADY! She's not a baby anymore!
*She loves playing babies and polly pockets - polly pockies, in two year-old slang.
*She's really getting into pretend play with the play kitchen - her specialties are mac and cheese and coocoos (cookies)... and when she's the Mom, she always has plenty of Dora fruit snacks for everyone!
*She's very much into: "me, mine, myself, my do it!"
*She finally has hair so she's into ponies (pony tails) and pretties (barrettes). And she loves wearing her pretty dresses and sandals, too!
*Her favorite thing to do right now is probably copy her big brother -- good in some ways - not so good in others (see previous post).
*We've started potty training but haven't gotten too serious yet. We tried underwear one day - 15 minutes, 3 changes...I think it was too early! :-)




In July, we've been relaxing and having fun:






As of yet, we don't have any big summer vacation plans, but we've been tossing out a few possibilities. North Shore? Dells? Maybe we'll just stick around here and save up for another time? I've finally taken up golf again, and I'm loving it...so we've been on the course as often as we can - taking days off here and there to take advantage of the irresistably nice days. All in all - Life is good!

Yeah, we're still here...

So, it's been awhile. We've been busy trying to effectively discipline a 4 year old and trying to prevent a 2 year old from copying the aforementioned 4 year old. Seriously, Y'all (that's for you, my southern friends), Parenting is hard work! Cale's latest logic: since Grandma and Grandpa are my Mom and Dad, that means I'm still a kid.... so, he doesn't have to listen to me! HA - good try, Honeybun!!

My guess on the latest score:
4 year old - 50
Parents - 5, but those 5 victories are oh-so-sweet!

It's kinda like golf: total frustration one minute, and the next, utter satisfaction! One of these days, we'll consistently hit it in the fairway, figure out how to chip, and sink the putts....Right?? Practice makes perfect - and lately, we've had A LOT of practice!

So, needless to say, the kids are growing up way too fast!!

**Apologies to my husband & family for not keeping up with the posts. I will strive to do better, I promise!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

March 2009, in Pictures.

The kids and I went to AZ to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We went to the zoo, visited family, did some shopping, swimming, and managed to get in some putting practice. It was a great time, but it went by much too quickly!! The weekend after we got home was beautiful! The snow was melting and we had the perfect little mud puddle at the end of the driveway - right where our great snow hill was the month prior. The clothes went right into the washing machine!

Arizona (sneak peek) ...

We're having a lot of fun, but we also wish Daddy was here! Miss you, Daddy! Train Park tomorrow and then we're on our way home Tuesday afternoon.

I forgive you.

It's been awhile, please forgive me... Cale would.

Yesterday, Cale's Sunday School lesson was about forgiveness. After we got home, Cale bumped into Maren. I told him to say sorry.

He told her, "I forgive you, Maren. That's what we learned at Sunday School."

Nice, Cale, but you're the one who bumped her, she's supposed to forgive you.

"Oh yeah... Maren, say I forgive you."

Outside!

What a fantastic weekend with fantastic weather! We were able to get outside to play both yesterday and today. With all of the snow we've had the last few months, we have the perfect little sledding hill in the front yard.

We've been on the go lately - visiting with friends and family. We've had a lot of fun, but it was nice to be home for a weekend to get back on schedule and get to some high piling laundry!

We have some exciting things coming up in the next few weeks, too. Next weekend is Valentine's Day. The following weekend Ryan goes to Vegas with the boys, while the kids and I are going down to Iowa to visit my college roommate, Erin and family. A week and a half later, the kids and I are going to AZ to visit Grandma and Grandpa Olson. Woo-Hoo! We're excited for all the fun coming up!!